Wednesday, January 30, 2013

a certain october--Angela Johnson

I'm a big fan of Angela Johnson (see my other reviews here) and a certain october is no exception. Johnson writes short, quick, powerful, emotional books that are perfect for reluctant readers or just short-on-time readers. She packs a lot in her small packages.

Scotty's life is not too easy or too hard, she gets along with her stepmother and her autistic half-brother, has good friends, and does okay in school. And then one day she is in a terrible train accident in which a classmate is killed and her brother is seriously injured. Dealing with severe survivor's guilt and depression, Scotty must find a way to forgive herself and continue living.

Johnson is a master at raw emotion. Her books are "easy" to read, but difficult to digest. Although there are some adult situations and language, this is a perfect book to discuss as a group.

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